Determination of 39 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners in sediment samples using fast selective pressurized liquid extraction and purification

In order to reduce time of analysis, a new pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) method that automatically and rapidly achieves quantitative and selective extraction of 39 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in sediment samples was optimized. It consists of on-line cleanup by inclusion of sorbents in the extraction cell. The new method was compared with a conventional method based on the use of Soxhlet extraction followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with cartridges. The instrumental determination was performed by GC–MS, using negative chemical ionization in the selected-ion monitoring mode. Recoveries from 47 to 82% were obtained for spiked tri- to hepta-PBDE congeners in sediment sample. The repeatability of replicate extractions was better than 15% relative standard deviation. The detection limits obtained with the new developed method were between 1 and 46 pg/g dry weight. The reduction in the sample preparation (extraction + cleanup) time (from days to 30 min) with a similar efficiency than that afforded by the conventional Soxhlet extraction–SPE cleanup technique indicates the suitability of this method. The method was applied to sediment samples where the analytes were detected in the range of 0.86–2.49 ng/g dry mass.